Video games can rewire your brain, explains study

Playing video games can shape our brains and behaviour, boosting attention as well as causing neural changes similar to those seen in addictive disorders, say scientists. Video games are becoming more common and are increasingly enjoyed by adults. The average age of gamers has been increasing, and was estimated to be 35 in 2016. Changing technology also means that more people are exposed to video games. Many committed gamers play on desktop computers or consoles, but a new breed of casual gamers has emerged, who play on smartphones and tablets at spare moments throughout the day, like their morning commute.

Researchers looked at studies exploring brain regions associated with the reward system, and how these are related to video game addiction. “Games have sometimes been praised or demonized, often without real data backing up those claims. Moreover, gaming is a popular activity, so everyone seems to have strong opinions on the topic,” said Marc Palaus, from Open University of Catalonia in Spain.

Scientists wanted to see if any trends had emerged from the research to date concerning how video games affect the structure and activity of our brains. They collected the results from 116 scientific studies, 22 of which looked at …read more